When We Were Young: Two Centuries of Children's Book Illustration

by William Feaver

In this selection of artists who have endured over the ages, William Feaver, one of England's most distinguished art crticics, makes an unabashedly personal survery.
When We Were Young is a comprehensive, international survey of art in children's books from William Blake to the advent of the television era in the 1950s. Feaver's introductory text discusses techniques sources, influences, styles, and the illustrators themselves: Tenniel, Crane, Doyle, Rackham, Beatrix Botter, HEinrich Hoffmann, Cruikshank, Burra, Lear, Sendak, and many more.
Here for the art lover, the art historian, the children's book specialist, the connoisseur, the nostalgia buff, is an enchanting voyage through the children's books of two hundred years.
The place section includes more than one hundred twenty-three illustrations, forty-four in color, each one fully annotated.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, Childrens

96 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is excellent at what it does. Unfortunately, it is also rather outdated at this point, as it only goes up through 1950.

[Hilary Blake · Rating 2 out of 5]

A brief and rather dated look at the history of children's book illustration.

[Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wanted more pics, less words.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book that highlights children's literature illustrations over the years. It is a bit dated as it only goes to the 1950's; however, as a foundation it is solid.